Contest Plug

If you're looking for a deadline to write something fast, you might want to consider The Script-a-thon.

It's only $25 to enter, you have all of July to bang out a script, and you even get a 25% discount in selected L.A.-area coffeehouses.

I donated a set of my notes as a prize in one of the categories (though otherwise I'm not affiliated with it). If anyone gives it a shot, let me know how it comes out.

Read More

Weekend Box Office #191

Life rolls along.

GROWN UPS (3534 theaters). The cast is impressive (for this kind of thing), though reviews haven't been all that excited. Still, it looks like dumb fun. Figure $29.4 million for the weekend.

KNIGHT & DAY (3098 theaters). It opened two days ago, and the numbers haven't been all that solid, while reviews have been mixed. Figure $25.4 million for the weekend.

******

Last weekend, TOY STORY 3 did a solid $110.3 million. JONAH HEX tanked with only $5.4 million.

Read More

Weekend Box Office #190

TOY STORY 3 (4028 theaters). This is going to be huge. Let's call it $128.9 million for the weekend.

JONAH HEX (2825 theaters). This is not going to be huge. Let's call it $7.8 million.

In limited release, I hear WINTER'S BONE and CYRUS are both good.

Read More

Weekend Box Office #189

So... I'm still a bit underwhelmed.

THE KARATE KID (3663 theaters). This is a remake that feels completely unnecessary, while Jaden Smith lacks the wimp-who-needs-help aura that Ralph Macchio had. Still, reviews are solid and it'll hit that family crowd. Call it $29.7 million for the weekend.

THE A TEAM (3535 theaters). The reviews aren't as solid, but things blow up. $38.9 million for the weekend.

******

Last weekend, GET HIM TO THE GREEK did $17.6 million, KILLERS did $15.8 million, MARMADUKE stumbled in with $11.6 million, and SPLICE only did $7.4 million.

Read More

Weekend Box Office #188

Another weekend of underwhelming wide releases. I don't feel old, but I feel too old for this stuff:

MARMADUKE (3213 theaters). Reviews have been bleak, and apparently this is for very young children only. Figure it'll do about $17.5 million for the weekend.... maybe.

KILLERS (2859 theaters). They didn't show this to critics in advance, and the reviews trickling in today are underwhelmed. Ashton Kutcher isn't really a movie star. $13.4 million for the weekend.

GET HIM TO THE GREEK (2697 theaters). Russell Brand's stateside appearances haven't been all that great, and apparently this is a bit too juvenile and R-rated for mainstream audiences. Figure it'll do about $15.5 million.

SPLICE (2450 theaters). This is supposed to be pretty solid, though the trailers make me feel like I've seen most of it. The presence of Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley will help with anyone who knows her they are, though not with the core horror crowd. Call it $12.1 million.

******

Last weekend, PRINCE OF PERSIA did $37.8 million for the four days, just beating SEX AND THE CITY 2, which did $36.8 (though it's Thursday opening did an additional ($14.2 million).

Read More